NBA-leading Thunder too good for Lakers

AP, LOS ANGELES

Kevin Durant scored 19 of his 43 points in the fourth quarter as the Oklahoma City Thunder sent the undermanned Los Angeles Lakers to a record-setting seventh straight home loss with a 107-103 victory on Thursday.

The Thunder have a 1.5 game lead over the Indiana Pacers for the NBA’s best record.

Their 43-12 mark has equaled the best start in the franchise’s 47-year history.

The Lakers have lost 22 of their past 27 games and are tied with Sacramento for last place in the Western Conference.

Oklahoma City are 20-7 without second-leading scorer Russell Westbrook, who has not played since getting a triple-double on Christmas Day at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Westbrook is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

BULLS 92, NETS 76

In Chicago, Taj Gibson scored 16 points and Carlos Boozer returned from an injury to add 15 in the Bulls’ victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Boozer missed the three previous games because of a strained left calf.

Joakim Noah had 14 points and 13 rebounds for his fifth straight double-double as the Bulls (27-25) moved two games above .500 for the first time since they were 6-4 on Nov. 21. They have won four of five.

Paul Pierce led Brooklyn with 15 points in the teams’ final game before the All-Star break.